Author: Maria Cuglievan Wiese

There is no doubt that the U.S. elections caused political uncertainty during the negotiations in Marrakech; however, this was definitely not enough to stop the irreversible global momentum of climate action.  Maybe five years ago, the questioning of the continual commitment of the U.S. to climate change would have made the world shake and caused doubts about the ability of collective action to tackle such a complex issue; however, I am confident to say that we face a different reality today.  Instead of disseminating collective will, the U.S. election resulted in the reaffirmation of the global commitment to climate action.  It is clear that the global community is proud with the climate negotiations accomplishments thus far, specially the Paris Agreement. The reiteration of world leaders that we have reached a “point of no return” or that “there is no turning back” in the climate change fight gives hopes to the fact that the compromise to face climate change is stronger than a person, or even a country.

Leaving aside the political uncertainty, COP22 celebrates the implementation of the Paris Agreement eleven months after its approval- compared to the seven years that it took to approve the Kyoto Protocol.  The new treaty has added eleven new ratifications during COP22-one hundred and eleven countries- which represent 77 percent of world GHG emissions.  Adding to the positive outcomes of COP22, the U.S. Secretary of State’s message of optimism after the presidential election results highlighted the support for climate change action from U.S. business leaders, civil society, as well as American cities.   He further mention that in order to successfully evade the worst effects of climate change and the costs that these consequences could place in the U.S. economy, it is fundamental to adopt and get on board the current revolution of renewable energy and the innovation and employment that comes along with this transition.

Moreso, COP22 has also demonstrated that there is a clear support from the private sector. It was determined that the private sector engagement has grown exponentially.  77 companies have now commitments to the UN Global Compact Leadership Criteria on Carbon Pricing, 200 companies- representing $4.8 trillion in market volume and responsible for 627 metric tones of CO2 eq per year- have set climate science target commitments (CCTNE 2016).  Additionally, the 2016 Status Report on the Business Contribution to Global Climate Action found that since COP21, the number of participating business in this initiative has increased by 17 percent, and that 27 percent is these business participants have influential operations in countries with developing economies (CCTNE 2016).

Now is the moment to make a plan and translate our compromise against climate change into action.  The countries left Marrakech with a compromise to complete the stated regulations for 2018.  There is no doubt that the agenda is quite ambitious but very clear in order to maintain a focused work plan.  At COP22, the countries also decided to implement a balance of progress in 2018, which gives the countries the opportunity to recheck their INDCs and come back with more ambitious objectives and planes before 2020.

As an all-encompassing global community we clearly have to face multiple challenges and changes ahead.  The next years to come don’t only require individual leadership from the governments, cities, investments, business and civil society.  It will also require collaboration since we have to make sure that there is a clear world economic strategy based in renewable energy and energy access in every corner of the world.  Finally, we have to guarantee that every state and non-state actor is an active participant, as well as protecting and helping in the transition of the most vulnerable countries and global communities.

The message of COP22 could be summarized in that we are moving forward with the support of the market, governments and millions of people around the globe.  In order words, we are all part of this change.

References

http://www.wemeanbusinesscoalition.org/sites/default/files/The-Paris-Agreement_Z-Card_1.pdf

https://climatechange-theneweconomy.com/news-2/

http://www.efeverde.com/opinion/todos-somos-parte-la-accion-climatica-mariana-panuncio-feldman-wwf/

While ministers and government entities push forward text negotiations and strategically negotiate- literally word for word- the implementation of the Paris Agreement, indigenous leaders coming from every corner of the world advance their message of discourse on solutions to climate change in a vibrant colorful and interactive dynamic at The ‘Indigenous Peoples’ & Communities’ Pavilion; in my opinion, one of the most visible and intriguing platforms in the COP22’s civil society ‘Green Zone’.

There are more than 370 million indigenous people around the world (IIPFCC).  Indigenous people represent 5% of the world’s population.  Simultaneously, they represent 15% of the worlds poor, and 33% of people living in extreme poverty in rural areas (WRI, 2016).  But this is not all negative news, even though one could argue that climate change exacerbates poverty and deepens inequalities and marginalization, indigenous peoples are amongst the most active climate leaders.  Indigenous peoples steward, own, occupy or claim approximately ¼ of the planet, representing 80% of the world’s remaining biodiversity (WRI, 2016).

On a more positive note, the opportunity for global impact is real.  More than 20% of carbon in the worlds tropical forests is located in indigenous territories located in the Amazon Basin, Mesoamerica, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Indonesia (WRI,2016).  In the technical aspect, the WRI study states that securing indigenous land tenure in Colombia, Brazil and Bolivia could avoid the release of approximately 43.8-59.7 Mt CO2 per year by avoiding deforestation.   Placing these numbers into perspective, this is equivalent to taking between 9- 12.6 million carts off the road. The study further discusses economic benefits by avoiding emissions as well as the values associated to keeping forests intact at a US$ 700 – 1,561 million in Brazil, Bolivia and Colombia over the next 20 years . As well, the study found that in tropical rainforests where indigenous rights where recognized, local deforestation numbers where two to three times smaller that other locations in Bolivia, Brazil and Colombia.

Regardless of how science and statistics back up the invaluable role of indigenous communities in the conservation of biodiversity in climate change, taking indigenous peoples voices to global forums is certainly a challenging task.  Only 21 of the 197 countries that have ratified the Paris Agreement have included indigenous and territory rights in their National Plans.  At COP22, indigenous leaders will be pushing for access to financing to implement adaptation and mitigation strategies.  The Green Climate Fund of US$ 10, 000 million till the moment does not promote and does not push for the recognition of indigenous rights from national governments, as well as the norms of free consent for any project that affects local indigenous communities.

Additionally and most importantly, indigenous leaders have the hard task of work hand in had with the local governments to comply with the Declaration on the rights on Indigenous peoples, which in short requests a previous consult with the affected communities and ensures their free, and informed consent prior to the approval of any project in their territory.  This turbid area in legislation is currently causing controversy in extractive industry projects such as the current Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) and the Sanding Rock Sixious people in South and North Dakota, U.S.

Like the Sanding Rock Tribe, indigenous peoples’ confront these challenges on a daily basis.  One will hope that COP22 and the fight against climate change will allow indigenous peoples’ to show the world that their role as the guardians of the forest is an essential piece that needs to be propelled forward in order to achieve out climate goals.

References

http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2016/11/17/indigenous-representatives-across-world-stand-standing-rock-during-cop22

https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2016/11/indigenous-peoples-are-the-real-climate-experts/

http://www.elcomercio.com/tendencias/pueblos-ancestrales-propuestas-cop22-cambioclimatico.html

When reflecting on my first day at COP22 in Marrakech, the opening plenary of the APA has been the most impactful event.  There is certainly much commotion and a heated environment at the COP venue.  During the APA opening plenary, as the APA Co- Chairs gave the floor to the working groups, the Latin American region (LatAm), in their diverse negotiating blocs, were ready to take their stands and emphasis their negotiation positions.

In terms of climate change, LatAm countries have a particular stand and profile.  With economies relatively stable and only one country in the list of least developed countries (Haiti), international cooperation to achieve its developing goals is necessary; however, cooperation seems to have a different profile that suggests the need for financial support that comes hand in hand with mechanisms of implementation such as the transfer of technology and capacity building.

Looking back to COP21, the LatAm regions initiative was key in order to approve the Paris agreement due to the urgency to address the vulnerability of the region and its member countries to climate change.  At COP22, there is no doubt that the LatAm countries maintain that firm stand in order to continue with the implementation of the Paris Agreement.

Bloc statements in the APA meeting suggest high expectations in terms of climate financing for developing countries.  Financing decisions will help transform and accelerate change in the region as they are a key element in order to achieve each Parties INDCs.  In addition, many LatAm countries have experienced profound changes in their political and economic situation.  Take for example Brazil and its economic and fiscal crisis in the past years.  This instability certainly jeopardizes the economic resources allocate to climate change.  Therefore, a central element in the discussions at COP22 is the $100bn dollars a year in climate financing for developing countries.

The region needs to transform its highly economic dependency on GHG intensive practices such as natural resource extraction, cattle ranching, high range/yield agriculture, transportation and “dirty” energy generation.  For example, LatAm produces 23% of world bovine meat, an expanding economic sector, yet one of the major contributors of GHG emissions for the region.

In order to achieve the 1.5C reduction target, there needs to be a drastic change in GHG emission reduction, requiring the transformation of many of the regions GHG intense human activities.  As expressed by the AILAC, ALBA and LAC, AOSIS negotiation blocs n the APA opening plenary, the major axis of the negotiations in Marrakech will be climate finance and the allocation of these resources in order to catalyze such a drastic transformation in the regions intense GHG practices.

REFERENCES:

http://www.ipsnoticias.net/2015/08/sobra-margen-a-america-latina-para-ampliar-infraestructura-verde/

http://conexioncop.com/el-acuerdo-de-paris-entra-en-vigor-dando-luz-verde-a-la-accion-mundial-frente-al-cambio-climatico/

http://conexioncop.com/material-de-capacitacion-que-falta-para-la-implementacion-del-acuerdo-de-paris/